After looking vulnerable early in Sunday’s matchup at Minnesota, the Patriots’ defense made a big play to even the score.
Safety Devin McCourty’s 60-yard interception return of an ill-advised Matt Cassel pass put the Patriots at Minnesota one-yard line, and tailback Stevan Ridley’s TD plunge two plays later knotted Sunday’s game at seven in the first quarter.
McCourty’s pick came after the Vikings sprinted out to a 7-0 lead on tailback Matt Asiata’s 25-yard TD reception on a short, simple play-action pass into the flat about four minutes into the game.
On the Minnesota scoring drive, Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner did a masterful job mixing rushing and play-action plays, and Minnesota had success stretching New England’s defense laterally, such as when Cassel faked a handoff flowing right and threw back left to tight end Rhett Ellison for 24 yards. Indeed, the absence of speedy linebacker Jamie Collins loomed large for New England early, but Minnesota surrendered that advantage on the next drive with a momentum-halting turnover.
